The Rest Is Classified: Episode 36 – CIA Mind Control: Fighting Communism with LSD (Ep 2)
Release Date: April 8, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 36 of The Rest Is Classified, hosts David McCloskey and Gordon Corera delve deep into the clandestine world of the CIA's mind control experiments during the Cold War. Titled "CIA Mind Control: Fighting Communism with LSD (Ep 2)," this episode explores the origins, execution, and ramifications of the MKULTRA program, with a particular focus on Sidney Gottlieb, the program's mastermind.

The Genesis of MKULTRA

[03:11] Gordon Corera:
Gordon introduces Sidney Gottlieb, a former CIA analyst whose obsession with mind control was fueled by fears that the Soviets had cracked the code to manipulating human consciousness. This belief led the CIA to commission Gottlieb to spearhead experiments aimed at controlling and reprogramming the human mind.

Key Points:

• Historical Context: Post-World War II era marked by intense rivalry between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
• Program Origins: Building upon earlier Nazi and Japanese experiments with mind-altering substances.
• Primary Objective: Develop methods for interrogation, brainwashing, and psychological manipulation.

The Pursuit of Psychedelic Potentials

[04:22] David McCloskey:
David elaborates on Gottlieb's quest to find a "truth serum" that could force individuals to reveal information without coercion or torture. Gottlieb saw psychoactive drugs, particularly LSD, as a promising avenue for achieving this control.

Notable Quote:
“He is looking for a way into the mind, a way to… condition it, and a way then to fill it… with intention or desire, the ability to act that is in line with the purposes of the CIA.”
—David McCloskey [04:24]

Key Points:

• Drug Trials: Experiments with marijuana, cocaine, heroin, mescaline, and ultimately LSD.
• Methodologies: Administering drugs to CIA personnel and unwitting subjects to observe behavioral changes.
• Findings: Most drugs proved unreliable for consistent mind control, but LSD showed intriguing potential despite unpredictable effects.

LSD: The Star of MKULTRA

[10:00] David McCloskey:
David transitions to LSD, highlighting its allure for the CIA. LSD's potency meant that even minute doses could significantly alter perception and behavior, making it an attractive tool for covert operations.

Notable Quote:
“Because of this power, the first thing you do is you start testing it on your friends and colleagues…”
—David McCloskey [16:06]

Key Points:

• Discovery and Acquisition: LSD was synthesized in Switzerland in 1943 by Dr. Albert Hoffman. The CIA acquired LSD from Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, albeit initially misunderstanding the quantity available.
• Implementation: Gottlieb personally experimented with LSD, even consuming it over 200 times to understand its effects.
• Ethical Breaches: Administering LSD to CIA trainees without their knowledge, leading to severe psychological distress among some agents.

The Expansion of MKULTRA

[25:27] David McCloskey:
With MKULTRA formally established and funded, Gottlieb faced significant challenges, including maintaining secrecy and sourcing sufficient LSD. To address these, he outsourced experiments to academic and medical institutions, often without informed consent from participants.

Key Points:

• Subprojects: MKULTRA encompassed numerous subprojects exploring various aspects of mind control, such as hypnosis and the integration of magic and illusion techniques.
• Collaborations: Partnerships with universities, psychiatric institutes, and even stage magicians to diversify research approaches.
• Human Subjects: Vulnerable populations, including inmates and mental health patients, were exploited as unwitting test subjects, leading to long-term psychological damage and fatalities.

Ethical Implications and Aftermath

[47:04] Gordon Corera:
Gordon questions Gottlieb's ethical stance, considering the heinous nature of the experiments. Despite the moral quagmire, CIA leadership, including Allen Dulles and Richard Helms, remained staunchly supportive of MKULTRA, prioritizing national security fears over ethical considerations.

Notable Quote:
“It seems pretty clear even early on that it's not a particularly reliable truth serum.”
—David McCloskey [05:55]

Key Points:

• Disregard for Consent: Many experiments were conducted without the knowledge or consent of participants, violating basic ethical standards.
• Psychological Toll: Subjects experienced lasting trauma, with some cases leading to permanent mental health issues or death.
• Program Continuation: Despite mounting evidence of harm and inefficacy, MKULTRA received continued funding and expansion due to Cold War anxieties.

Darker Facets of MKULTRA

[44:23] David McCloskey:
David recounts some of the most disturbing experiments under MKULTRA, including the injection of LSD into elephants and the exploitation of inmates at the Addiction Research Center in Lexington, Kentucky.

Notable Quote:
“The CIA, unbeknownst to the zoo, the zoo doesn't know where the money is coming from…”
—David McCloskey [44:46]

Key Points:

• Tusko the Elephant: An experiment where an elephant was injected with an excessive dose of LSD, leading to its death, underscoring the program's reckless disregard for life.
• Addiction Research Center: Inmates were subjected to prolonged LSD dosing without consent, resulting in severe psychological damage and fatalities.
• Notorious Figures: Individuals like Whitey Bulger were entangled in the program, experiencing traumatic consequences that affected their lives deeply.

Conclusion and Reflection

[48:38] David McCloskey:
David reflects on Gottlieb's ability to compartmentalize his gruesome work with LSD experiments and maintain a semblance of normalcy in his personal life. This dichotomy highlights the pervasive moral blind spots within intelligence operations driven by paranoia and fear.

Key Points:

• Compartmentalization: Gottlieb managed to separate his professional endeavors from his personal life, avoiding overt scrutiny during his tenure.
• Legacy of MKULTRA: The program left an indelible mark on countless individuals and remains a dark chapter in CIA history, raising enduring questions about ethical boundaries in intelligence work.
• Future Implications: The episode sets the stage for exploring even darker aspects of MKULTRA in subsequent installments, hinting at the depths of deception and manipulation employed by the CIA.

Notable Moments and Quotes

• Gottlieb’s Personal Use of LSD:
  “...he uses it himself later he says he used it more than 200 times.” [14:21]

• Impact on Individuals:
  “He was given LSD every day for 15 months and ends up mentally damaged…” [43:28]

• MKULTRA’s Scope and Secrecy:
  “Each subproject was aimed at a different avenue into the human psyche.” [36:45]

Final Thoughts

Episode 36 of The Rest Is Classified provides a chilling insight into the CIA's MKULTRA program, underscoring the lengths to which intelligence agencies will go in the name of national security. Through meticulous research and compelling narratives, McCloskey and Corera shed light on the ethical breaches and human tragedies intertwined with the quest for mind control, offering listeners a sobering reflection on the misuse of science and power.

Stay tuned for the next episode, where the hosts promise to uncover even darker aspects of MKULTRA, including personal accounts of individuals who suffered under the program's experiments.